US2073576A - Apparatus for cleaning cellular radiators - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1937. E. B. CLIMENHAGA APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CELLULAR RADIATORS Filed Jan. 18, 1935 m a m M f a. PM m Patented Mar. 9, 1937' UNITED STATES APPARATUS ErnestB.

ron' enema autumn mms'rons StcvensvIlle, Ontario, tnring Canada, assignor to Fedders Mannf Company, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application January 18, 1935, Serial No. 2,405

4 Claims. (01. 141-1)- This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning or washing cellular radiators or like articles, and it has particular reference to apparatus in which, by means of a conveying system, such ar- 5 ticles are dipped into one or more baths of cleaning or washing liquid and are delivered in a cleansed and substantiallydry conditidfif An automobile radiator, irrespective of its particular structural details, invariably comprises a core section provided with a plurality of longitudinal passages for the flow of water, and a number of transverse passages for the flow of air around the water lines. Such cores are made by assembly of suitable sheets of metal, soldered together, and, during the course of manufacture, the metal, both on the interior and exterlor of the water passages, becomes dirty, and must be cleaned before the article can be suitably finished. Heretofore, the cleaning of these go cores has been effected by simple immersion in a cleaning bath, and by blowing steam ufider the rails l3, are one-ormoretanksikltc, and I1, adapted to receive the cores as they are transported from one end of the frame to the other.

The means for effecting such movement of the cores is shown .in thedrawing as a pair of 5 continuous conveyor chains l8 which are mountsired to have the chains carry the cores in such fashion that they will be successively dipped into the tanks l8, Ito, and I1, moved through the 10 tanks while more or less submerged, andthen lifted from the tanks. For this purpose, a number of sprockets are used, located at various points on the side rails II, M, and I5, as shown best in Fig. 1. I 15 Viewing first the left hand portion of Fig. 1, it will be noted that the chains I8 move over' sprockets 2| mounted on the upper rails II, and are directed downwardly by sprockets 22 disposed at a low point on the uprights It, so that the carrying baskets (subsequently described) for pressure over the face of the core, but it has beer? fie/00185939 bl'dught'into anposltlonrwheresmey found that such expedients are not only expensive and involve more or less confusion in the 25 production line, but that they have also failed to produce an article as clean as desired. 7 In order to improve on these practices, the present invention therefore proposes a machine adapted to receive such cores and to convey them, with intermittent shaking to remove dislodged dirt, through a cleaning bath, and ultimately to deliver them in a cleansed condition and fairly free of cleaning liquid.

The several and conjoint features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from a perusal of the following description of a typical machine, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a side view, essentially in longitudinal section, of the machine;

- Fig. 2 is a tranverse sectlontaken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Flg.3isafragmentaryview,partlyinplan and partly in section, and on an enlarged scale, of the right hand portion of the machine as seen in Fig. 1; and, r Fig. 4 is aperspective of acore basket. The frame of the machine comprises a number of upright or vertical members IQ, II, and

I2, disposedinspacedpairaasshownin rigs. 1,2, and 3, to which are connected 9. series of longitudinal rails ll, ll, and Ii, disposed in spaced relation-and one above the other. Dissoposedbetweentheuprightmemberaandbclow may be quickly loaded. By means of sprocket? 23, mounted toward the right and on the rails l4, the chains it are brought to a point just 25 above .the left hand side of the tank It, and they are then constrained to move downward by the succeeding sprockets 2|, mounted just above the tank I6 and on the lower rails l3. It will beapparent, therefore, that anything suspended 30 from the chains will be plunged into the bath in the tank ll, Thus, in the case of a vertically suspended radiator core, the initial plunge will cause the cleaning solution to rush up through e'd on the frame by suitablc sprocketsf It 1335- the water es to clean and flush the same. 35

The next pair of sprockets 25 are mounted on the rails ll above the opposite side of the tank It, so that, after the core is-immersed, further motion of the chains it conveys the core longi- .tudinally through the-bath, thus cleansing the 40 transverse openings. The chains then move upwardly by provision of the next pair of sprockets 23a, mounted on the rails ll, in a manner quite similar to the sprockets 23. By noting the relative positions of the tanks II and "a, and the sprockets 23a, 24a, 25a, and 23b, itwill at once be apparent without further written description that the movement of the chain over the tank a, and, for that matter, over thetank II, is substantially a repetition of the motion just described. Thus, as shown in-the drawing, the cores are-washed vely in about the-same fashionineachoi thethreetanks, allof which may contain wash lutionaasdesired.

water, or various cleaning so- 20 i tween "them a -plurality of baskets 35, each After passing over the sprockets 230 at the discharge side of the tank [1, the chains I! are directed downward and to the right hand edge of the frame by sprockets 25, mounted at a low point on the uprights l2, and then up along the uprights l2 by driving sprockets 21, mounted between the top rails l5.- From this point, the chains extend to the sprockets 2|, thus completing the circuit. The operating power for the chains is obtained from a motor 23 mounted on a suitable support secured to a rail l4 and operating a speed reducing gear unit 3| through a drive belt 29. It will be understood that the sprockets 21 are secured to the driven shaft 32 of the unit 3|, as best shown in Fig. 3, and, since this type of drive is well known in the 'art, it is deemed unnecessary to discuss or illustrate it further.

From what has been suggested above, it will be understood that the chains", as they move over the several sprockets in unison, carry beadapted to receive a core 35. As best shown in Fig. 4, each basket comprises a pair of spaced side members 31 formed with journals 38 at their upper ends for the reception of bearing pins 39 secured to the chains 18, so that the baskets 35 hang 'down'froni "the chains Fahd may have a swinging movement. The arms 31 are bridged at their lower extremities by a perforate base 4|, and at intermediate pointsby a number of spaced rails or rollers 42, so that, while a core may be inserted into or removed form the open top of the basket, it is otherwise retained therein, while the washing solution flows through the basket readily.

It will also be noted that the distance between the rails l3 and I4 is such that, upon the vertical lift of the basket 35 from the tank ID to the tank 16a, or from tank lid to tank H, the basket is removed entirely from and is suspended above the tank, thereby permitting the cleaning solution to drain optand run back intodts own tank.

The mode of inserting a core into an empty basket will now be apparent from a consideration of the left hand portion of Fig. 1. As the empty basket 35 is delivered by the chains l3 moving toward the sprockets 22, the workman simply drops the core 36 into the basket, the top of which is accessibly located. In order to direct the basket 35 into the first tank, and to prevent the basket from striking the outer wall of the tank IS, a guide rail 44 is provided under the inclined portion of the chains, l8, being amxed to the horizontal rail l3 by a plate 45. The loaded basket is thus lifted for admission into the tank [6 without the necessity of using an additional sprocket and a greater length of chain.

Adjacent the discharge end of each tank is a series of steps 41, the purpose of which is to shake the basket and its contained core to extract therefrom as much fluid as possible, before the core is immersed in the next tank. As noted previously, by lifting the core upwardly from the tank, a substantial amount of the contained' liquid drains back at once into its own tank, thus preventing the undue contamination of the liquid in one tank by that in the preceding tank. However, too long a time interval would be required to complete such-simple drainage, leading to a low efficiency of the system, and the steps 41 are therefore provided to'extract the contained liquid more effectively.

It will be observed that the. basket 35 strikes the steps 41 as it reaches the end of the horizontal travel, and while it is moving in a ver-' tical direction. These steps slightly retard the lower end of the basket, while the upper end is moving with the chains l8, and, as the bottom 4| clears the step, the basket. swings against the next step, thus jarring and shaking the core to dislodge the liquid and loose dirt entrained therein.

As a result of this action, taking place as the core leaves the tank, there is but asmall transfer of the liquid in one tank to the next, and the cores are admitted into each tank in proper condition for treatment.

Referring now to the right hand side of the apparatus, there will be observed a series of steps 48, mounted above the end wall of the tank I], and on an inclined deck 49. The relation between these steps, the sprockets 230, and the inclined portion of the chains l8 between sprockets 23c and 26, is such that the swinging baskets 35 are materially retarded at their bottom portions, thus causing the baskets to lie at an angle and be bumped a number of times as they move over the steps 48. While the bumping caused by the steps 41 is sufficient to remove most of the cleaning liquid and prevent the contamination of one 'bath bythacontents of the preceding bath, a

more vigorous action is desired as the cores leave the apparatus. Accordingly, the foregoing arrangement is provided, to remove as much liquid as is possible by such mechanical means. Liquid collecting on the inclined deck 49 flows back into the tank I! by gravity.

The deck 49 merges into a deck 5| disposed at a reverse angle, which causes a further drag on the bottom of the basket 35, and raises the bottom above the mounting portions. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, as each basket approaches the extreme right hand portion of the frame, it is inverted to a suflicient degree to permit the cores to slide out freelyover the smooth rails 42.

Aybeltficgnveyormay be disposed beneath the discharge end of the apparatus just described, .to remove the cores from the vicinity of the machine. As shown in Fig. 1, such belt conveyor may consist of a frame member 53, mounted under the deck 5|, for the reception of a pulley 54, over. which passes an endless belt 55, supported at its mid portions by idlers 55. The cores 36 accordingly slide out of the baskets 35 onto the belt 55, and are removed in a substantially dry and clean condition. a

It will be noted that at all points except at the driving shaft 32 there is full clearance between the chains It, so that the baskets may hang down to the extent permitted by the steps disposed beneath at certain points. When the emptied baskets return to the input side of the machine, however, it is necessary to provide some means to carry them clear of the drive shaft 32. For this purpose, there is provided a pair of tracks 58, formed from angles to provide side guiding flanges, mounted over the drive shaft, as indicated by the numeral 59, and extending downwardly at an angle, as shown in -Figs. 1 and 3. These members may be secured to the rails l5 by suitable straps 6|, which, at this point, involve no interference with the remaining mechanisms. As the chains l8 and attached baskets move upward, therefore, the bottoms of the baskets are retarded by the ends 59 of the tracks, and finally are lifted and guided thereover. On a continuation'of the movement, the bottoms of the baskets are gradually dropped.

When clearance has been obtained, however, the

bottoms iii are released by the lower ends of the tracks 58, thus allowing the baskets to swing [to their normal vertical position.

a As best shown in Fig. 3, a pair of rails 64 and 65 drive means for are fixed between the rails i4 and IE, to carry a cross plate 65, to the inner face of which is tastened a hinge B1. The inner part of the hinge is secured to an angularly disposed gate 68,

which is normally extended a limited distance by a spring 69, surrounding a headed bolt H extending from the cross'member 66 to the gate 68. By this arrangement, the innermost edges of the gates 68 are normally disposed in the line of travel of the baskets 35, and catch the edges of the baskets as they swing free from the guides 58. The gates 68 at once move toward the rails 64 and 65 under the impact of the baskets, thus permitting them to pass, but only after their swinging tendency has been reduced.- Subsequent swinging movement in the opposite direction is prevented by the engagement of the baskets with the left hand edge of the gate 68. From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the invention provides an improved and highly effective apparatus for transporting cores or like articles through a number of treating baths, and delivering such cores with a minimum of liquid adhering thereto. It'will also be understood that while the invention has been described with reference to one example only, those skilled in the art may resort to various modifications and adaptations, all of which are intended to be comprehended as defined by the following claims. v

I claim: 1. In a machine for washing cores, a frame, an endless conveyor mounted on said frame,

baskets suspended from said conveyor for free conveyor and positioned to permit successive immersion of the baskets therein, a plurality of steps secured adjacent one extremity of the tank,

said steps being positioned in the path of the free extremities of the baskets as they emerge from the tank and adapted to be impacted successively by said ends of the baskets.

2. In a machine for washing radiator cores, 8. frame having spaced horizontal rail members,

a pluralityv of tanks disposed below said rail members, sprockets disposed at varying elevations on said rail members, conveyor chains extending over said sprockets, drive means for said the conveyor, core-receiving thereof.

chains, baskets swingingly mounted between said chains, the relation of said sprockets and rail members being such'with respect to each other and said tanks-as to cause a basket mounted on said chains to be plunged into each tank at one end thereof, drawn longitudinally through said tank, and then elevated from said tank in a substantially vertical direction for immersion in a following tank, and step means disposed adjacent the emergent side of each tank adapted to be contacted by the lowermost portion or said basket, whereby said basket and contents will be shaken free fromsubstantial quantities of adhering material acquired in said tank by intermittent retardation of the motion of the lower portion of the basket only.

3. In a machine for washing radiator cores, a frame comprising spaced rail members,

sprockets mounted on said rail members, conveyor chains mounted on said sprocketsdrive means therefor, a tank below said rails,'carrier baskets mounted for swinging movement between said chains, said sprockets being so disposed with respect to said tank as to direct said baskets downwardly into and through said tank as the chains are moved, other sprockets for directing the upper ends of said baskets to a low point with respect to the top of said tank beyond the discharge end of the tank, and step means at the discharge endof the tank to retard and elevate the bottom of the basket with respect to the top thereof as the upper end of said basket is moved toward said lowpoint, whereby said basket will be upset and its contents discharged.

4. In a" machine for washing radiator cores, pairs of spaced rails defining a frame, sprockets on said frame, endless conveyor chains mounted on said sprockets, drive means therefor, a' tank beneath the frame and between said rails, swinging baskets mounted between said chains, said sprockets being so located on said frame as to cause successively the vertical immersion, hori- .zontal movement, and upward removal of a swinging movement, a tank disposed below the basket with respect to said tan-k asv the chains portion of the basket as the same is removed from the tank to cause a bumping thereof, whereby substantial quantities of adhering liquid from the tank willbe .dislodg'ed for gravity return to said tank, and other step means above the top of the tank adjacent the discharge side thereof in the path .of the basket to engage and upset the basket to discharge the contents ERNEST B. QLIMENHAGA.

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